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US 5,243,868 AGranted
Continuously and infinitely variable mechanical power transmission
OwnerAbram Schonbergerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A continuously and infinitely variable mechanical power transmission that utilizes the principles of gyrodynamics in a torque converter and gearing arrangement as its means of achieving continuous and infinitely variable torque ratios between input and output rotary members.
Claims18
A continuously variable transmission comprising:
- an input drive shaft having a first end and a second end;
- a means for rotating said input drive shaft connected to said first end of said input drive shaft;
- a frame;
- at least one torque converter supported by said frame, said torque converter comprising,
- a rotor;
- a mounting means rotatably connected to said frame for mounting said rotor for rotation about three axes, comprising a spin axis, an input precession axis and an output precession axis, such that said spin axis is generally perpendicular to said input precession axis and said input precession axis is generally perpendicular to said output precession axis;
- a means for rotating said rotor about said spin axis;
- gearing rotatably connected to said second end of said input drive shaft and rotatably attached to said mounting means, said gearing providing intermittent transmission of rotation from said input drive shaft to said rotor such that said rotor rotates about said input precession axis;
- an output shaft connected to said mounting means;
- and
- a restricting means for converting the resulting alternating rotation of at least a portion of said mounting means and said rotor about the output precession axis into a continuous unidirectional rotation of said output shaft, said restricting means being mounted to said frame and interposed between said mounting means and said output shaft, whereby said output shaft will rotate in a predetermined direction.
8 more elements
A continuously variable transmission comprising:
- an input drive shaft having a first end and a second end;
- a means for rotating said input drive shaft connected to said first end of said input drive shaft;
- a frame;
- three torque converters connected to said frame, each said torque converter comprising,
- a rotor;
- a mounting means rotatably connected to said frame for mounting said rotor for rotation about three axes, comprising a spin axis, an input precession axis and an output precession axis, such that said spin axis is generally perpendicular to said input precession axis and said input precession axis is generally perpendicular to said output precession axis;
- a means for rotating said rotor about said spin axis;
- gearing rotatably connected to said second end of said input drive shaft and rotatably attached to said mounting means, said gearing providing transmission of rotation from said input drive shaft to said rotor such that said rotor rotates about said input precession axis;
- an output shaft connected to each said mounting means of each said torque converter;
- and
- a restricting means for converting the resulting alternating rotation of at least a portion of said mounting means and said rotor of each said torque converter about the output precession axis into a continuous unidirectional rotation of said output shaft, said restricting means being mounted to said frame and interposed between said mounting means and said output shaft, whereby said output shaft will rotate in a predetermined direction.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.